Alisha Luymes Philosophy of Music Education 1

Personal Philosophy of Music Education General education attempts to foster intelligent inquiry, abstract logical thinking, critical analysis, and the integration and synthesis of knowledge. It strives for literacy in writing, reading, speaking, and listening; teaches mathematical structures, acquainting students with precise abstract thought about numbers and space; encourages an understanding of science and scientific inquiry; provides a historical consciousness, including an understanding of ones own heritage as well as respect for other people and cultures; and includes an examination of values and stresses the importance of a carefully considered values system. General education also fosters an appreciation of the arts and provides the breadth necessary to have a familiarity with the various branches of human understanding. Music, as a fine and performing art, fits in this framework well because it unifies students in a common activity in which all parameters are included. Music sets the mood for the class by inserting or removing energy and allows the isolation of individual elements and skills and leads to the next activity. Music allows the imagination to work within that mood and operate within those parameters, and allows the expression of the bodily or tactile movement/reaction to the music. Music students tend to learn a large variety of things about music. They learn a lot about music history and historical events that were taking place when the music they play or sing was written. So much of our culture is absorbed in music and has been for centuries. Music can also enhance math and science. Students learn to count, keep a steady rhythm, and how to multiply and divide (to figure out how long each note is). They use science to help them discover what sounds good together and what does not and to understand the overtone series. Language is another aspect of general education. Many choral songs are written in other languages and must be translated to understand what is being sung. Even music itself is a form of communication. Students learn an incredible amount of coordination through music, including fine motor skills and breath control. Music education brings higher thinking to students by encouraging them to think about complex patterns. It is clear that music can help to unify curriculum. My chief objective as a music educator is to develop musical ability and understanding in my students. I will teach the students to sing in proper pitch and time, and help the students enjoy music by providing a sufficient amount of knowledge and listening experience. Students should be made aware of the history and tradition of the music they are learning. Music should provide mental relaxation and stimulate imagination through musical performance. It is also important for students to learn how to evaluate and appreciate various musical compositions and their composers. I need to equip students with technical, cognitive, and creative skills that will enable them to use musical knowledge effectively. It is important to provide an environment in which musical excellence can flourish and to cultivate in students the desire for continued musical and intellectual growth throughout their lives. I should discover the particular branch of music for which each student has special aptitude and give training accordingly to draw the best out of him/her. Music is a creative art, so I want my students to express their creativity! I envision my classes to be oriented around both feelings and facts. It is good to teach students factual information, whether it be about theory or composers, and then let them be creative and express themselves based on this new knowledge. Something students may have to do is come up with an original composition to exhibit new musical techniques and knowledge or small reports on composers that we cover in lessons. It is good to let students express their creativity with projects; this allows me to evaluate their progress in class. When learning new material, it is beneficial to both listen to examples and then practice for more effective learning. The materials that I choose will fit into both the Kodaly and Orff Methods. Kodalys teachings

Alisha Luymes Philosophy of Music Education 2

reside within a fun, educational framework built on a solid grasp of basic music theory and music notation in various verbal and written forms. Some of his teaching methods include the use of solfege hand signs, musical shorthand notation, and rhythm solmization. A lesson that includes Kodalys approach may be performing a piece in solfege or transcribing and notating a song correctly. The Orff Method is a way of teaching children about music that engages their mind and body through a mixture of singing, dancing, acting and the use of percussion instruments. A lesson that includes Orffs approach may be writing a tune for a particular poem or performing a piece for body percussion. I think that both of these methods would be very beneficial and included in my classroom. To accomplish these objectives I will make sure that my lessons are organized well and will cover all of my objectives as a music educator. It is important to know ahead of time what I will be covering each day and to understand how all the objectives are going to be incorporated into my classroom. The atmosphere of the classroom is important too and should aid in accomplishing the objectives. Materials that I will use include appropriate choir music and instruments to help work on rhythms. When learning a new rhythm, it is helpful to be able to play it and then apply that knowledge to singing. Also, the music should help me reach my objectives and be chosen accordingly for the grade level being worked with. I will know that I have reached my goals by examining my students. If we are actually doing theory of some sort, there may be a small quiz over it when we have finished to see how much the students have learned and retained. Then as I listen to my students sing their music repertoire, I should be able to hear the improvement and hear them applying their new knowledge. We may do recordings at the beginning and end of the year for them to listen to and critique. Comparing and contrasting their progress as a whole may benefit them and help them grow as individual students. I want to be a music teacher because more so than in any other profession, teachers have the ability to reach out to the future. I have the chance to be greater than myself by being the shapers of minds and nurturers of a future generation. I can witness the great minds and hearts of the years to come at the starting gates. I can help set my students on the right path and maybe even guide them to create a better tomorrow. Teachers can touch the future and they can change it forever.